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Volume 115 • Issue 26
75¢
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
2021 Independence Day event back after COVID shutdown Chamber says some sponsorship opportunities still available by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
It has officially been a year now since Cherryville had their famous Independence Day Celebration thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. This year’s festival promises to be different and more along the lines of what some are calling “normal”, or at least as normal as things can get. In his letter dated June 15, City Manager and Fire Chief Jeff Cash once again
let the town’s downtown merchants be aware that this year the city is hosting their Independence Celebration on Friday, July 2, 2021. As Chief Cash said in his letter, “It will be an event for the entire community. We will offer fun, food and fellowship, including music by ‘Too Much Sylvia’.” He continued, “Please make plans to bring your family and friends to help us celebrate,” adding for folks to “…Please bring your yard chair,” and that “…Fireworks will begin at approximately 10 p.m., weather permitting.” Chief Cash said he and his crew will begin setting up in the mini-park early Friday morning, July 2, add-
ing that if they or their customers utilize this area as a parking area, then to please make everyone aware in advance that the parking lot will be closed for event set up. Said Chief Cash, “Our plans are to block Main Street beginning around 2 p.m., on that Friday,” and to only block Main Street between Houser Drug and Oak Street.” He continued, “We wanted to make you aware of this well in advance for your planning purposes. The back alley along the railroad will be blocked near the downtown mini-park for the stage. Your customers and employees will need to utilize parking other than the See INDEPENDENCE, Page 5
Will 2021’s Independence Day Celebration see the large crowds like its 2019 predecessor? We certainly hope so! This year marks the much-loved festival’s reappearance since 2020’s shutdown due to COVID-19. (Eagle/CF Media file photo by Michael E. Powell)
ALWS returns to Shelby; It’s time to “Play Ball” Legion World Series to be held as originally scheduled by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The “Boys of Summer” are back and the American Legion World Series has ‘em! Always a fan favorite, ALWS baseball is back after a 2020 hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as
noted in a recent media release in which the head of the nation’s largest veteran’s organization announced the ALWS’s eightteam championship tournament will be played in Shelby, N.C., Aug. 12-17, weather permitting. American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford noted he is “…extremely excited about the reThe 2019 American Legion World Series winners, turn of this fantastic Idaho Falls Bandits’ catcher and pitcher have an im- event,” adding that portant inning conference. with the “…avail-
One of two buildings to come down in controlled burn by CFD
Gaston Co. Beekeepers Association is honey of a group by ALAN HODGE alan@cfmedia.info
Mention honeybees to most folks and two things pop into their mind – a big gob of golden honey drizzled on a cathead biscuit and/or the memory of stepping on a bee barefoot in the summer and the result-
ability of vaccines and additional data showing that young people participating in outdoor activities represent a low risk for spread of the virus, we feel that we can conduct a safe World Series.” Oxford added, “This is a very different environment than what we faced last year. Many of us eagerly await the umpire’s welcoming words, ‘play ball!’” According to Shelby ALWS officials, Idaho Falls, ID, won the 2019 ALWS 5-3 win over Fargo, ND, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, “…after a rain delay on Championship Tuesday forced the A New Mexico Post 13 player waits for umpire’s call. (photos provided) game to be completed the next morning.” 2019 10th World Series in Shelby-Cleve- Chairman Eddie Holbrook, said marked the third straight year Idaho land County since the city became they are responsible for recruiting sent a team to the ALWS, and the the official home of the tournament volunteers and establishing the porstate’s ninth appearance overtion of the organization for which all. 2019’s championship was the in 2011. their chairmanship oversees. Executive Committee of Clevestate’s first. See ALWS, Page 9 The 2021 ALWS will be the land County ALWS Baseball Inc.,
ing ‘ouch’. But there’s a group of people whose involvement with honeybees goes much further than those stereotypical scenarios. They are called apiarists, or more commonly, beekeepers. Among other bee-related activities, these people raise bees and sell honey. They also educate other people on the vital importance honeybees play in the production of our vegetable See BEEKEEPERS, Page 3
El Patron Restaurant comes down to make way for proposed medical office by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
The controlled burn at the old El Patron Mexican Restaurant on Monday, June 21 – one of two the Cherryville Fire Department and other local departments utilized as part of a training exercise for
their firefighters – came off without any serious hitches or glitches, according to Fire Chief Jeff Cash and Assistant Fire Chief Jason Wofford. Chief Cash said, “The police department assisted us with traffic by coning off one lane and having a patrol car on the scene, so there were no issues with traffic. We did have some visibility issues until the fire broke through the roof at the North Cherry and East Church intersection See CFD, Page 11
As the old El Patron Restaurant starts smoking during the Monday, June 21, controlled burn, firefighters from Cherryville and other departments keep a watchful eye on everything. (photo by Ryan Gunter)
Thank you for your service!
ALL veterans and active military personnel admitted FREE the entire tournament. August 12-17
www.AmericanLegionWorldSeries.com